Catalog Year: 2022-2023
Banner Code: LA-MA-PSYC
The MA in psychology is distinguished by its emphasis on basic research and the application of research to solve practical problems in families, industry, government, and health care settings. Because of the program’s proximity to Washington D.C., students have access to many employment and continuing education opportunities in research, academia, and consulting within government, public, and private settings.
The psychology MA offers the following concentrations:
While the department does not offer a master's degree in clinical or counseling psychology, a master's degree in psychology with a concentration in clinical psychology is available for students who have been admitted to the doctoral program concentration in clinical psychology.
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.
Total credits: 30-32
Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.
Choose one concentration and complete the requirements therein.
For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.
The concentration in applied developmental psychology focuses on child development. It provides basic knowledge about normal development, skills for assessing developmental level, and techniques for planning and evaluating programs that foster optimal development. Graduates are prepared for employment at agencies concerned with educational and health programs for children, enrichment programs for infants and preschoolers, and education programs for parents.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 704 | Life-Span Development | 3 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Cognitive Bases of Behavior | ||
| Biological Bases of Human Behavior | ||
| Social Bases of Behavior | ||
| Emotional Bases of Behavior | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 611 | Advanced Statistics | 4 |
| PSYC 754 | Multiple Regression | 3 |
| Total Credits | 7 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select two courses from the following: | 6 | |
| Cognitive and Perceptual Development | ||
| Language Development | ||
| Developmental Psychopathology | ||
| Social and Emotional Development | ||
| Applied Developmental Psychology | ||
| Special Topics 1 | ||
|
Other developmental courses chosen with advisor approval
|
||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
| 1 |
When topic is Adolescent Development, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Child Development and Social Policy, Executive Function(s) Development, or developmental in content with advisor approval. |
Choose either a thesis or practicum/research experience (4 credits)
The thesis includes a combination of PSYC 798 Thesis Proposal/PSYC 799 Master's Thesis. Per the University Catalog, at least 3 hours must be PSYC 799 Master's Thesis; these 3 hours must be taken the first semester in which PSYC 799 Master's Thesis is registered. Thus, this is generally a combination of 1 credit of PSYC 798 Thesis Proposal and 3 of PSYC 799 Master's Thesis.
Students should be aware of the policies governing theses. They must follow the thesis enrollment policy of the university and once enrolled in PSYC 799 Master's Thesis, maintain continuous enrollment. See Academic Policies.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 credits from the following: | 4 | |
| Thesis Proposal | ||
| Master's Thesis (minimum of 3 credits) | ||
| Total Credits | 4 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 4 credits from the following: | 4 | |
| Psychology Practicum (take 3 credits) | ||
| Directed Reading and Research (take 1 credit) | ||
| Total Credits | 4 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Two credits of 1 | 2 | |
| Seminar in Professional Psychology | ||
| Total Credits | 2 | |
| 1 |
Students should take 1 credit in fall and 1 credit in spring of their first year. |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 5 credits in consultation with your advisor | 5 | |
| Total Credits | 5 | |
Students complete the 30 credits required for this degree through additional coursework, including courses not listed above, within or outside the department, with prior approval of the graduate advisor.
The clinical psychology concentration trains students to have flexibility to fill the evolving functions of clinical psychologists, including research, direct provision of clinical services, supervision, program development and evaluation, and consultation.
The clinical psychology MA concentration is not a terminal degree. Students who have been admitted to the doctoral program with a concentration in clinical psychology may apply to receive the MA in psychology on completion of 30 credits of coursework. Students must also be in good standing in the program, as determined by the director of clinical training.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 810 | Psychological Assessment I | 4 |
| PSYC 811 | Psychological Assessment II | 4 |
| PSYC 822 | Scientific Foundations of Clinical Psychology I | 3 |
| PSYC 864 | Foundations of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy | 3 |
| Total Credits | 14 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 861 | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Youth | 3 |
| PSYC 862 | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Adults | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Note: For doctoral quantitative emphases B and C, both PSYC 754 Multiple Regression and PSYC 756 Quantitative Methods IV: Multivariate Techniques in Psychology must be taken, but only one of these courses is required for the MA.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select three or more courses from the following: | 10-11 | |
| Methods for Social Research | ||
| Advanced Statistics | ||
| Multiple Regression | ||
| Quantitative Methods IV: Multivariate Techniques in Psychology | ||
| Total Credits | 10-11 | |
The concentration in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience focuses on studying biological substrates of behavior. Core and affiliated faculty study areas as diverse as neural control of behavioral development; animal models of learning and memory and their disorders (such as Alzheimer's); human brain systems involved in cognition, perception, human error, decision making, and movement; the relation of neural activity to human performance; and cognitive aging. A focus of the program is on translational neuroscience-complementary study of neural systems in humans and animals, including application of animal research to human behavior.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 531 | Mammalian Neurobiology | 3 |
| PSYC 558 | Neuronal Bases of Learning and Memory | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Neuroimaging | ||
| Behavioral Chemistry | ||
| Total Credits | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 611 | Advanced Statistics | 4 |
| Select one course from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Quantitative Methods II: Analysis of Variance | ||
| Multiple Regression | ||
| Quantitative Methods IV: Multivariate Techniques in Psychology | ||
| Special Topics 1 | ||
| Special Topics in Psychology 2 | ||
| Total Credits | 7-8 | |
| 1 |
When topic is Bayesian Statistics or Research Methods. |
| 2 |
When topic is Quantitative or Research Methods. |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| One credit of | 1 | |
| Seminar in Professional Psychology | ||
| Total Credits | 1 | |
Students complete the 30 credits required for the degree through additional credits of coursework, including courses not listed above within or outside the department, with prior approval of the graduate advisor.
Some options for fulfilling this requirement:
PSYC 592 Special Topics
PSYC 892 Special Topics in Psychology
NEUR 602 Cellular Neuroscience
NEUR 689 Topics in Neuroscience
BIOL 585 Eukaryotic Cell Biology Laboratory
Students may choose to do either a 6 credit Psychology Practicum or a Thesis. Both options require at least 6 credits total. Students should be aware of the policies governing theses. They must follow the thesis enrollment policy of the university and once enrolled in PSYC 799 Master's Thesis, maintain continuous enrollment. See Academic Policies.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 792 | Psychology Practicum | 6 |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Thesis Proposal | ||
| Master's Thesis (minimum of 3 credits) | ||
The human factors/applied cognition concentration trains students in the application of cognitive science to real-world problems. Students gain expertise in such areas as human/computer interaction, cognitive system engineering, cognitive ergonomics, and transportation. Faculty members help place students who do not have real-world experience in a part- or full-time practicum before completing the degree.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 701 | Cognitive Bases of Behavior | 3 |
| or PSYC 768 | Advanced Topics in Cognitive Science | |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 611 | Advanced Statistics | 4 |
| Select one from the following: | 3-4 | |
| Quantitative Methods II: Analysis of Variance | ||
| Multiple Regression | ||
| Quantitative Methods IV: Multivariate Techniques in Psychology | ||
| Total Credits | 7-8 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 530 | Cognitive Engineering: Cognitive Science Applied to Human Factors | 3 |
| PSYC 645 | Research Methods in Human Factors and Applied Cognition | 3 |
| Total Credits | 6 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select two courses from the following: 1 | 6 | |
| Seminar in Human Factors and Applied Cognition | ||
| Advanced Topics in Cognitive Science | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
| 1 |
These courses may be repeated. |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students complete the 30 credits required for this degree through additional coursework, including courses not listed above, within or outside the department, with prior approval of the graduate advisor. | 0-8 | |
| Total Credits | 0-8 | |
Students need an advisor's approval to register for practicum.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Six credits of | 6 | |
| Practicum in Applied Psychology | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
Students need the chair's approval to register for thesis. Students should be aware of the policies governing theses. They must follow the thesis enrollment policy of the university and once enrolled in PSYC 799 Master's Thesis, maintain continuous enrollment. See Academic Policies.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Thesis Proposal | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |
The industrial/organizational psychology concentration trains students in the conduct and application of psychological research in work settings. Expertise can be developed in a variety of areas, including personnel selection, training, leadership, motivation, and human performance assessment.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least 10 credits of the following: | 10 | |
| Advanced Statistics | ||
| Multiple Regression | ||
| Psychometric Methods | ||
| Evaluative Research in Psychology | ||
| Total Credits | 10 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| PSYC 636 | Survey of Industrial-Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| Total Credits | 3 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least four courses from the following: | 12 | |
| Organizational Change and Development | ||
| Industrial and Personnel Testing and Evaluation | ||
| Training: Psychological Contributions to Theory, Design, and Evaluation | ||
| Techniques in Industrial/Organizational Psychology | ||
| Behavior in Small Groups and Teams | ||
| Personality: Theoretical and Empirical Approaches | ||
| Social Bases of Behavior | ||
| Issues in Personnel Psychology | ||
| Psychology of Work Motivation | ||
| Careers | ||
| Behavior and Performance at Work | ||
| Seminar in Industrial/Organizational Psychology | ||
|
Other PSYC graduate courses with permission of I/O faculty
|
||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Select at least 1 credit from the following: | 1 | |
| Practicum in Applied Psychology | ||
| Special Topics in Psychology 1 | ||
| Total Credits | 1 | |
| 1 |
When topic is IO Learning Series. |
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students complete the 32 credits required for this degree through additional coursework, including courses not listed above, within or outside the department, with prior approval of the graduate advisor. These courses are typically within statistics or specialized content. | ||
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students need the chair's approval to register for thesis. Students should be aware of the polcies governing theses. They must follow the thesis enrollment policy of the university and once enrolled in PSYC 799 Master's Thesis, maintain continuous enrollment. See Academic Policies. | ||
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6 | |
| Thesis Proposal | ||
| Master's Thesis | ||
| Total Credits | 6 | |